Portable and foldable cornshocking frame



Aug. 3Q, 1949. RASMUSSEN 2,480,197

PORTABLE AND FOLDABLE CORN-SHOCKING FRAME Filed Feb. 2'7, 1948 Alfred J. Rasmussen INVENTOR.

Attorneys Patented Aug. 30, 1949 umrao stares PORTABLEAND; FULDABLE-COBN- H CKI EBWE;

Alfred J. Rasmussen, Parker, S. Dak.

Application February; 27, 134,3, Serial: No. ];l ,4= 4,5,

3 Claims. 1-,

This invention relates to a novel and improved corn; shocking device in the form of a portable, foldable frame which is characterized by compactness, convenience, and the utmost in sim-. plicity of construction.

More specifically, my invention comprises a highly practical stand having an upright pros vided with convenient, means at its lower end which is' forcibly anchored in the ground, and provided. at its upper end; with projectable and retractable facilities, wherebythe stalks may be; easily erected, stacked, bunched, and, subsequently tied into a self-standing shock.

In carrying outv the preferred embodiment of my invention, the stated upright has its lower end pointed to provide an anchoring stake and, in addition, has an angular iootspiece for pressing the stake home, said foot-piece also having a pointed prong, parallel to said anchor, the two,

the anchor and the prong, serving to, effectively 3- sustain the upright effectively in place for practical usefulness.

A further object of the invention is to employ a drop arm hingedly mounted atop said upright, there being a brace pivotally attached to and depending from the arm and adjustabiy con nected with said upright, whereby to permit the arm to be righted when in stalk-racking position and dropped down to an out-of-the-lway position when not in use.

Then, too, novelty is predicated on the stated structure wherein said arm has a pair of curvate fingers so arranged that they come in handy when erecting and starting the first batch of stalks, thus paving the way for uick and satis? factory bunching, bundling and tying results.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a portable stand of the type described wherein the aforementioned racking fingers are at right angles to and situated inwardly of the free swingalole end portion of the drop arm whereby they, in conjunction with that part of the arm which extends beyond them, coordinate their collective functions to facilitate the commencement steps of righting and initially stacking the first batches of stalks in a manner to expedite piling other stalks for systematic stacking, bunching and tying into the completed bundle or shock.

In addition, it is an object of the invention to provide a labor and time-saving structure and the avoidance of complexity due to the unusual simplicity in the overall construction in the endeavor to supply, as far as is practicable, the requisite equipment for ready and convenient use.

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penetrating and anchoring stake. Attac dto the be r o ion o the u ri ht it ab i st ke is an outstandin ri ht aejs lafl disp fo t pi ce 3 an this as it cu esi'b fi si i and. p nte to re e a r assi aaeh irs a e 9- Th on s a al el t at stake and is e What a ia tha t e a Th mean perm t t e take e be in tia l rush sid' g und and th ra s be he l rres eq iiltbih ground by foot pressure, whereby to securely ma tain t e upright i a ve iie l r ii e" fer u ntermed a e when 9: he l r s .c -Qv d d wi h coa h sl t "l nd L e s F gu e 3: 0

Th a rem ntio e r tr ctable nd i able arm is den t d b the num ra '9 as is detachably and hingedly connected, as at l3, to the upper end portion of said upright. A bracing stay I4 is provided and this is pivotally connected at one end, as at l5, to the arm, inwardly of the outer or free end portion of said arm. The stay is provided with keeper notches l6 and H and these may be selectively engaged with the slot It, as shown in Figure 3.

The numeral l8 designates a special fixture or bracket the central portion of which is suitably fastened, as at !9, to the intermediate portion of the drop arm 12. The end portions of the bracket, denoted by the numerals 20 and 2|, are of arcuate curvature and constitute the aforementioned racking and starting fingers. They extend at substantial right angles to the arm I2 and are located inwardly of the pivot 55 and adjacent free end portions of the arm. It will be understood that the arm, when righted for use, is in a horizontal position and at right angles to the upright. It is held in this position by the stay brace or link It, the notch I! being engaged with the lower edge portion of the slot H! to thus set the parts for stalk-stacking and bunching purposes.

In operation, the frame or stand is set up as shown in Figure 1 and the initial corn stalks are erected and placed so that the lower ends rest in contact with the ground and the upper end portions are nestled in the curved seats provided by the racking fingers 2|. The stalks are placed on both sides of the projectin end portion of the arm I2 as is obvious. Then, the stalks are continuously piled up and bunched in a well known manner and after the bundle is completed, it is tied, also in the usual manner, to provide the customary self-standing shock. The shock having been completed, the stay link I l is tripped and released and the left-hand end portion slides through the coacting slots I9 and H in a manner to permit the arm 82 and coacting portion of the link to be pulled out and thus withdrawn from the shock. Then, the device is set up again at another point in the field, and the stated operation is repeated.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A corn-shocking frame of the class shown and described comprisin an upright having a pointed ground anchoring stake at one end, a foot-piece connected at one end to said stake and extending at right angles therefrom, the opposite end of said foot-piece having a lateral pointed prong parallel to said stake, said upright havin slot means, a drop-arm hingedly mounted at one end on the end of said upright opposite to said stake, a foldable brace hingedly connected at one end to the end portion of said drop-arm remote from said upright, said hinged connection being spaced inwardly of the lastna-med end portion of said drop-arm, the opposite end of said brace being slidable through said slot means, said brace having longitudinally spaced selectively usable keeper notches engageable with said slot means, and a fixture horizontally attached, intermediate its ends, to a portion of said drop-arm at a point between the hinged end of the latter and hinged end of said brace, said fixture serving to assist one, in conjunction with said drop-arm and brace, in starting the corn-stacking steps.

2. A corn-shocking frame of the class shown and described comprising an upright having a pointed ground-anchoring stake at one end, a foot-piece connected at one end to said stake and extendin at right angles therefrom, the opposite end of said foot-piece having a lateral pointed prong parallel to said stake, said upright having slot means, a drop-arm hingedly mounted at one end on the end of said upright 0pposite to said stake, a foldable brace hingedly connected at one end to the end portion of said drop-arm remote from said upright, said hinged connection being spaced inwardly of the lastnamed end portion of said drop-arm, the opposite end of said brace being slidable through said slot means, said brace having spaced selectively usable keeper notches engageable with said slot means, and a fixture horizontally attached, intermediate its ends, to a portion of said drop-arm between the hinged end of the latter and hinged end of said brace, said fixture serving to assist one, in conjunction with said droparm and brace, in starting the corn-stacking steps, said fixture embodying arcuately curved fingers extending beyond respective sides of said drop arm and assuming positions at approximate right angles to said drop-arm.

3. A portable and foldable corn-shocking frame of the class shown and described comprising an upright having a stake at one end, a linearly straight drop-arm hingedly connected at one end to the remaining end of said upright, a brace hingedly connected at one end to the remaining end portion of said drop-arm, the opposite end of said brace being adjustably connectible with said upright, and a corn racking and stacking fixture having curved racking fingers, said fixture being secured mid-way of its ends to an intermediate portion of said droparm, said fingers projecting at right angles beyond adjacent respective sides of said drop-arm.

ALFRED J. RASMUSSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 479,124 Mason July 19, 1892 513,734 Russell Jan. 30, 1894 725,114 Minkler Apr. 14, 1903 

